This is the diary of our family sailing voyage aboard a 46 Foot Sailing Catamaran. We are Michael and Barb, with our children Danielle and Harrison who were 11 and 8 when we started in October 2009 from San Diego. We've been cruising through Mexico and the next leg of our travels takes us to the South Pacific.
You can contact us by email at michael@mitgangs.com or barbg@mitgangs.com.

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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

A comment on your comments

We just wanted everyone to know how much we enjoy receiving your comments. While we cannot reply to each one, we gather around the computer each night after the dishes are done and read all of them. We get so excited to hear from you all, so please keep them coming. They are a wonderful source of encouragement for the kids' writing, and they are our connection to the 'real' world. In fact, we have no clue what's going on in the world at all - other than the weather. We'll do a separate post on weather one of these days, I'm sure, but suffice it to say we know when there is a storm in California as it usually travels down here...

Back to your comments. We've heard from old friends and new, business colleagues, people that we haven't spoken to in years and acquaintances. We've been hearing from our family in Toronto almost daily - more than when we are on land - and we are loving it!! We love each and every comment, whether from a familiar email address or not. It's like our own personal Facebook page on the water.

Let us know what you're curious about, or what you'd like to hear more on.

We do try to post photos whenever we can, but we do require internet access to post more than one or two at a time. When we do post via the Single Sideband radio (i.e. when we don't have internet), it uses up limited time we have to receive and send emails, so we often choose to wait until we have internet access.

I also have to say that I love my friends and family! Your support after my last post was so welcomed, you have no idea. Just so that you know, it's been back to a great experience since then. In fact, our buddy boats started grounding their kids until they'd get their work done - could it be that we set the tone?

9 comments:

And for all of us back home, I can say for myself that reading your posts is so much fun. I can hear each one of you talking and it makes the distance not seem so great. So keep them coming!! And pictures too, they are terrific. And yes, it has been cold and stormy in CA. Looks like rain today.

heyy!!! i miss you so sosososossoosososososoososososososoosoossoosoosososoosososossosoososoososoososoosoosososososoosoosososososoosoosoososososososoososoososooosoososoosososososooso much!!!!! i hope you are all having lots of fun!!!!!!! love,talzi

Hey Mitgang Gottesmans!! For some reason, we have used e-mails more than postings, so my apologies for that. Michael and Barb, you are a true inspiration. And the quality and content of writing, well believeme, nothing happening in the news is quite as impressive!! Danielle, I could feel as if I was there with you, a bit scared, and really excited about being so close to marine life! Have I said I miss you enough???We still feel like part of our family is far away, so thanks for each and everyone of your postings. Just know that we eagerly await their arrival....LOTS OF LOVE, The Saal-Dalma's

Hi all .....BRRrrrrrr...it's freezing cold here (-8 degrees C, ~ 18 degrees F for you) today.Glad that all's looking better at your end - I knew it would. Hope the home schooling is okay these days.Allan and I are leaving for Ottawa tomorrow for the weekend to visit with Natalie, Louis and Toby. Will celebrate Chanukah with them. I will be bringing them a turkey breast, vegetable-squash soup,etc....including desert.Will you be making potatoe latkes (4 potatoes, 1 onion, 2 eggs, 1/3 c. flour, 1 tspn baking powder, salt & pepper - and lots of oil for frying) for Chanukah. Do you have a Chanukia - you can improvise if not.Please send us a tentative itinerary for the next 1 - 2 months, if possible.Love you all...HAPPY CHANUKAH!

Hi Everyone Glad to hear it's smooth sailing again - we all need a chance to vent.It is SO cold here-I am finally wearing my Down coat.We have snow but the sun is wonderful-silly Bubie-still loving winter-just too cold!We are having Chanukah at Mandels tonight-how do you celebrate on the high seas-THAT we need pictures of & I'm sure you,Barb, thot of that a long time ago. How does Bubie send presents or does it have to wait till I bring them?Had a wonderful time in Montreal-everyone sends love & are totally curious. We read the "famous" blog with Nancy & Marvin so there was a LOT of dicussion. Auntie Edythe is doing quite well & talks very lovingly of all of you.This a.m. we had the Chanukah concert at Heschel-SO cute. The kids were very excited & they did a great job.Hope you are all feeling well. Love you & MISS you. Lots of hugs & kisses.HAPPY CHANUKAH!!!!& SHABBAT SHALOM Bubie

Hello - I am flying back from Paris (they have Wi-Fi on some flights) and wanted to leave a comment on your comment page! Of course I am fascinated by everything you post about because it is such an adventure. But on the geeky side, it would be great to hear how your VOIP works now that you unplugged if from your house and brought it on your boat, how you get Wi-Fi at sea and how the natives in the areas you visit use or don't use technology. I was just in Paris and their 3G system has better reception then I get in my own house! But they use technology in a different way that we do in the us. In Paris I found they are more practical about technology, use online social networking but are in the early phase of adoption. On the Metro you see very few that are on a cell phone (I saw more people reading books) - compared with the US where everyone never leaves their connection.

We are all so excited for you and so much enjoy reading your daily posts..Luv and hugs, Beth Blecherman